Omaha daily bee., 1887-06-21
RELIEF FOR THE SETTLERS,
The Law Appropriating S250,o0o for the
Reimbursement Of Kneval Settlers. d.,
THE FORMS AND INSTRUCTIONS.
How Those Who Failed to Secure
Title to "kncvai Land" in tho
Public Domain lay be
Reimbursed.

and purchasers of lands on the public do.
main, IN the states of Nebraska and Kan.
sas. This act was passed for the relief
of those who had settled upon or pur.
chased what are known rs the Kneval
lands. For the purpose of refunding to
them the expenses incident to the failure
of their titles derived from the govern.
ment, the bill appropriates the sum of
S250,000. After the passage of the bill,
and before my departure from Washing.
ton for my home, frequently called at
the interior department and urged that
the blank forms and instructions needed
for the relief provided in the bill should
be speedily prepared. There has been
much delay in the matter, but l am
pleased to say that, in calling upon the
Interior department this morning, l re-
ceived the circular of instructions. 1t is
of such great importance to a large num-
Der of the citizens of Nebraska, that ask
you to publish it, in connection with this
letter. If the claimants under the
bill will follow the instructions provided
carefully, there is no reason why they
should not be given speedy relief, and
the reimbursement of the moneys paid
10y them. All applications should be ad.
dressed and mailed to Hon. l.. Q. G. La.
mar secretary of the in terror, Washing
ton, ID. &. | am assured by the secretary
that the work of reimbur semcnt pro-
vided for in the bill shall be expedited as
rapidly rs the force of clerks in the gen.
eral land Office will permit Truly yours,
CHARLES +. MANDERSON.
CIRCULAR
WASHINGTON, ID. g., April 80, 1851
DEPARTMENT OF TIE INTERIOR, GENERAL
LAND OFFICE-To Registers and Receiv-
ers-Gentlemen: Your attention is called
to the following provision of the act of
congress approved March 3D., 1887, en-.
titled AN act for the relief of settlers
and purchasers Of lands on the public
domain in the states of Nebraska and
Kansas"
Be 1t enacted by the house of representa-
tives of the United States of America in
con 4ress assembled, hat for the purpose of
reimburSing persons and the grantees, heirs,
and devisees of persons, who, under the
homestead. pre-emptiOn, or other laws, set
tied upon or purchased lands within the
grants made by an act entitled IAN act for
grant of lands to the state of Kansas to aid
in the construction of the Northern Kansas
railroad and telegraph" approved July %,
1856. and to whom patents have been issued
therefor, but against which persons or their
been or may have hereafter be rendered by
the United States circuit court on account OF
the priority of said grant made in the act
abo We entitled, the sum of Sa5o,oO0, or SO
purpose, is hereby appropriated: Provided,
however, That no part of said sum shall be
paid to any one of said parties until he shall
have filed with the secretary Of the intcri
copy of said decree, duly certified and also
certificate of the judge of said court render
ing the same to the effect that such decree
was rendered in bona de controversy be-
grant made in said act and defendant hold
Ing the patent OF. holding by deed under
the patentee, and that the decision
was in favor of the plaintiff on the ground of
the priority of the grant made by said act to
the filing, settlement, or purchase by the de-
fendant or his grantor; and said claimant
shall also lille with the said decree and certiti-
cate, bill of the costs in such case, duly GER
titled by the judge and clerk of said court.
Thereupon it shall be the duty of the secre-
tary of the interior to adjust the amount due
to each defendant on the basis of what he
and fifty cents per acre for the tract, his title
to which shall have failed as aforesaid, and
the costs appearing By the bill thereof 80 GER
titled as hereinbefOre provided. He shall then
make requisition upon the treasury for the
sum found to be due to such claimant, or his
heirs and devisees or assigns, and shall pay
the same to him, taking such release, acquit-
tance or discharge as shall forever bar any
further claim against the United States on
account of the failure of the title as afore-
said: Provided further That when any per-
son, his grantees heirs, assigns, or devisees
shall prove to the satisfaction of the secretary
of the interior that his case is like the case OF
those described IN the preceding portions
OF this act, except that he has NJ, not been
fore provided, and that he has in good faith
paid to the person holding their prior title by :.
the grant herein referred to the sum de-
manded of him, without litigation, such Sec
rot ohntI nav IN nRh n
he has so paid, not exceeding three dollars
and nifty cents per acre, taking his release
therefor as herelnbefore provided:
only apply to the actual Ct and bona tide settlers
on the lands herein referred to. his or their
heirs, assigns, or legal representatives, and
no one person shall be entitled to the benefits
of this act for compensation for more than
one hundred and sixty acres Of land: Pro-
vlded, That all other persons VINO purchased
any part of said land at one dollar and twenty
five cents per acre, and the money was actu-
ally paid into the treasury, such person, his
heirs, ASST ms, or legal representatives shall
be entitled to repayment of the money so
actually paid by them.
Approved March 3, 1887.
Under the provisions Of this act three
classes of persons are entitled to REIN
bursement, viz:
/. All persons, their grantees, heirs,
and devlsees, who settled upon or pur
chased lands within the limits of the grant
in question, and to whom patents have
been issued, but against whom DEGREES
have been or may hereafter be rendered
by the United States circuit court on ac
count of the priority of the railroad grant.
g. Any person, his grantees, heirs, as
signs, or devisees, who shall prove to the
satisfaction of the secretary of the inter
iOr, that his case is like those of the class
above described, except that he has not
been sued and subjected to Judgement,
hat hn Inns in, fati iI with